Political Science and Government at Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,287/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 6.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #470 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $445K $451K $431K
Earnings Multiple 6.5x 6.6x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 34 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$68,184
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$84,928
-25% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,842
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,287/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $33,287 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #470 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Claflin University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $38,842 are relatively flat compared to the $33,287 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Claflin University

Claflin University accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,727 students in Orangeburg, SC. 73% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Claflin University →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Claflin University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Claflin University?
A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $431,295 in decade earnings vs $445,461 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →